A New Life

It was graduation. Finally, it was the end of May, the end of another year, the end of Hogwarts, and the end of the war. It was that time of the graduation ceremony where the Salutatorian makes his speech and then introduces the Valedictorian. He was extremely nervous. He had never been good at talking in front of people. He hadn't done something like this in front of such a large expecting amount of people since Dumbledore's Army. That seemed so long ago, days that were full of youth and being suppressed by the ministry. For a minute, he wished that he could go back to the very first day he stepped foot into the castle. He knows he will miss this place. Everyone knows he will.

Nobody, however, knows the one thing he will miss more than Hogwarts. It's not Quidditch, the food or even his girlfriend, Ginny Weasley. No, it's Hermione, His best friend. After graduation, she would be leaving him for America to fulfill her dream of professionally continuing her studies at the Salem Witch Institute in Oregon. She had only told him. She planned to announce this huge academic move during the party, which seemed so far away from where the two were standing side by side behind a large red curtain on the stage in the Great Hall.

Her hand gracefully slipped into his, as if it were a practiced move. His fingers tightened around hers, like he never wanted to let her go. He never did, but if it meant her sacrificing what she had always been working for, then he would do it in a heartbeat. His grip tightened more and his arm unconsciously pulled her closer next to him. He bent his head and whispered into her ear.

“I'm really going to miss you” it sent shivers up her spine.

“That's nothing compared to how much I'll miss you” she replied, her eyes straightforward, but her mind with the man standing to her left.

“I have something very important to tell you. Are you listening?”

“Always, Harry”

“Okay, here goes…Hermione, we've been through hell and back together. When Ron couldn't help me, you were there…I want you to go to Salem, but I don't want to loose you…its selfish—”

“No it's not Harry!”

“Let me finish! It's selfish that I want you all to myself when I've already got Ginny and you're with Ron, but I'm sick of pretending like we don't have something more than this.”

“Harry what are you trying to say?” Hermione turned herself to look at him straight in his gorgeous emerald eyes.

“I'm going with you. We'll announce it as soon as possible and then head out to Oregon”

“Harry you're mad! You can't just drop everything—everyone—you love to follow me to the states just to protect me…I'm fully capable—”

“Mione, weren't you listening? I know that you're capable. I want to go with you because I don't want to loose you…I mean, I think that I…that I—”

“Harry you're about to go onstage, whatever you have to say you need to say it now!” Hermione forcefully told him, hoping beyond hope that he would tell her what she's been wanting to hear for so long.

“Hermione I think I'm in love with you. And that scares me to death because I've never said that to someone before, but I know it's true. And if I'm not with you for the rest of my life I'll die from not having you near me. Please, please let me go with you…I'm shit without you!”

Hermione giggled “Language, Harry”

Harry looked hurt. “That's it? You're just going to reprimand me for swearing?”

“Harry I love you very much, but you already knew that, didn't you?”

Harry pondered for a minute and then smiled. “Yeah I guess I did…”

“So what now…”

“Well, we've just decided that we love each other and plan to run off to America together. How about a kiss?” Harry suggested. Hermione nodded. As their faces came closer, the anticipation of their first kiss together grew, and both of them were much to preoccupied to notice when the curtain that hid them from the audience opened. The audience audibly gasped as Harry and Hermione were revealed in a passionate kiss.

“YOU SODDING GIT!” was the only thing to grab their attention. Ron ran out of his aisle and sprinted through the doors of the great hall. A teary-eyed Ginny and a pissed off Weasley family was next out the great oak doors.

Harry looked around nervously and gulped. He looked to Hermione for reassurance. She was blushing madly and tried to smile for him, but it was concealed by the hair she tried to cover her blush with. Harry took comfort from her and approached the podium for his Salutatorian speech.

“Err…hi everyone…” he cleared his throat “My name's Harry Potter and I've had the pleasure of attending Hogwarts for the last seven years. Um…a lot has happened during that time…a lot of it here in this castle and in this very room. I…well I made some lifetime friends who I plan to stay friends with for forever. I learned more than I ever thought I would. I met the girl I love here. Despite what's happened with the fall of Voldemort and many of our loved ones, I'm proud and happy to say that my years here were unbelievable and amazing. Almost as unbelievable and amazing as your Valedictorian for this year and my best friend, Hermione Granger”

Harry stepped off the stage to an astounding round of applause. He was slightly awed because he hadn't said anything that great, yet they were going mental in the seats and aisles. He shook his head with a smile and took Hermione's hand as he led her to the podium and stood back proudly as she wowed the crowd with her elegant and heartwarming speech. It was only too bad that Ron, Ginny, and the rest of Weasley's could not have enjoyed it as much as everyone else had.